Plow rake



Dec.421,y 1943. c. B. JENSEN PLOW RAKE Filed Aug. 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- E Mh.

N a /NvE/vroe CHE/5 ENJEN j V' tDec. 21, 1943. QBHJNSEN I 2,337,108

PLOW RAKE Filed Aug. 6, 1942 5 Shees-Sheet 3 y /VENTOE w f CHR/5' JENSEN l C3 I Dec. 21, 1943. v v c, B JENSEN 2,337,108

PLOW RAKB piled Aug. e, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 4 /vE/vv-oe Chae/s B. JENJEN AT1-zwemt Fly. 7

. Dea 21,1943. .B JENSEN 2,337,108

PLOW RAKE Filed Aug. e, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 5 N E v N f /lwENv-oe CHE/s JENSEN pau! v )Moa/u TTaNsKr A Patented Dec. 21, 1943 UNHTED STATS zfilddd iiTENT OFFICE.

PLOW BAKE Application August 6, 194:2, Serial No. 453,822

10 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary rake mechanisms for use in conjunction with snow plows, particularly rotary snow plows. In the use of rotary snow plows, drifts are frequently encountered which are higher than the upper edge of the plow and while such rotary snow plows are capable of ejecting the total volume of snowof the drift to great distances at the side of the roadway, excessive amounts of power are required for breaking up hard snow and for dislodging the upper portions of large drifts preparatory to handling by the plow proper.

In order to overcome this diiiiculty in snow removal operations, it has frequently been necessary to station nien on the drifts to dislodge the upper portions of the drift allowing such portions to fall downwardly in a position to be engaged by the plow. This makeshift expedient is of only slight practicability and is exceedingly expensive.

In accordance with one form of the present invention a rotary snow rake is mounted on the plow in a manner such that it may be raised or lowered in accordance with the height of the drift encountered for prelirninarily breaking up the drift so that it may be engaged by the plow and ejected, and, it is therefore an object oi the invention to provide an improved rotary rake mechanism for snow plows and particularly a mechanism capable of being instantly adjusted to various heights and capable of maintaining such adjustment.

In accordance with another form of the invention it is an object to provide rotary rakes at several levels with provision for operating one or both of them in accordance with the height and solidity of the drifted snow being encountered.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rugged and practical rotary rake frame carrying one or more rotary rakes and improved mechanisms capable of allowing the rake frame, or frames, a limited freedom of movement in accommodation of excessive non-uniform stresses imposed upon the rake by ice incrustations of irregular nature or due to extraneous obstacles encountered during operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved rotary rake frame and rake shaft mounting arrangement whereby momentary distortions of the rake frame are accommodated without injury to the mechanism and also to provide for adequate adjustment of the mechanism in service.

It is a further object of the invention to prof vide improved rake members having a shape especially designed for strength and snow breaking and moving ability; and to provide for irnproved mounting of such rake members upon a rotary rake shaft without impairing the strength of such shaft.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a rotary rake mechanism slicing blades for cleanly cutting down the snow sidewall.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent in the mechanism herein illustrated, described and claimed.

The improved rotary rake apparatus of the present invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric front side view showing the rake mechanism in one of its operating positions and mounted upon a rotary snow plow propelled in front of a traction vehicle.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the rake mechanism operated from the plow on which it is adapted to be mounted and with certain parts removed for purposes of clarity.

Figure 3 is a side elevational View showing the rotary rake mechanism in a lowermost position and mounted upon a rotary snow plow in conjunction with which it is used.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operative connection between the rotary rake mechanism and the mechanism for angularly adjusting the elevational position of the rake.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View of an end of the rotary rake shaft and its bearing mounting structure.

Figures 6 and '7 are, respectively, a side elevational view and a front elevational View of a modified form of the invention.

Throughout the drawings and specification the same numeral indicates corresponding parts.

l l Referring to Figure 1, it) generally designates a traction vehicle which, in this instance, is a heavy truck upon the front of which there is mounted a rotary snow plow generally designated 2S. The rotary snow plow consists of a W-shaped mo-ldboard having a front prow portion 2l and side wings 22 and 23, the prow 2l and side wings 22 and 23 being solidly formed with each other so as to present to the snow a moldboard of generally W-shape in horizontal section viewed from the vehicle seat. The prow 2! is provided with a splitter blade 25 and with scarng blades 25 on each side. The side wings 22 and 23 are provided with similar scariing blades 26 and 2T, and with upright snowbank blades 23 and 29. All of the blades are preferably removably mounted on the rotary snow plow for replacement when necessary. In the illustrated embodiment, the removable mounting is accomplished by means of bolts and nuts 35.

Between side wing 22 and the left side of prow 2| as illustrated in Figure 1 there is positioned a rotary snow impeller, generally designated 321|, having a plurality of snow impelling blades 33 on each side of it. The rotary snow impeller is provided with an operating recess between the prow 2l and the side wing 22 so that it is partially positioned in the recess and partially exposed, At the right side of the prow 2l there is a similar rotary snow impeller, generally designated 32H. Both snow impeller rotors 32B, and 32T.. are mounted for rotation upon an impeller shaft 35 which is transverse of the direction of motion of the plow. Rotation is counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 3.

Above each of the impellers is a snow ejecting opening above which there are disposed mechanisms SSL and 3ER for directing the sno-w either to the right or to the left of the Vehicle. rEhe mechanisms 36B and 35L are identical and hence only one need be described. The mechanism includes a snow deflector blade t' of generally V-shaped cross section, which is mounted on a pivot shaft 33 spaced above the upper end of the blade. The mechanism StR is provided with an operating arm 3a 'and is connected by the drag link liuto the similar operating arm S9 of the mechanism SSL. lf desired, the operating arms 35i-35 may be joined to the pivot shafts 33-33 by shear pins to avoid damage if change of positions is attempted when the defleotor blade 37 is frozen or jammed. At the middle of the drag link QG there is a connection plate 4l to which are attached the piston rods i2 of hydraulic operating cylinders @3R and GSL. When cylinder ASR is operated the lower arm of each of the V-shaped deector blades 3'! of each of the units is moved to the left and accordingly intercepts the ejected snow throwing it to the right as shown in Figure l. Similarly when the hydraulic cylinder ASL is operated, the snow is delivered to the left.

The rake' mechanism, Vgenerally designated 55 is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and includes a tubular cross frame 5l having stub end shafts 52 in each end thereof. The shafts are suitably attached to the tubular frame 5i by welding pins or by any other suitable method. The stub end shafts are of such a length as to be positioned above the blades 28 and 2S of the plow, and are trunnioned in bearing blocks 53 mounted on the plow frame. At each end of the tubular frame 5l there is a solidly attached extending arm 55, both arms 55 being braced by diagonal cross braces 55. IThe arms 55 are normally in the same plane altho, under stress, one or the other of the arms may be deflected, thus imposing a twisting movement upon the tubular frame 5 l To the remote extending portion 53 of each of the arms 55 there is attached a hydraulic elevating mechanism, generally designated 65, best illustrated in Figure 3. The hydraulic elevating mechanism 5t is of the two-direction type, being provided with hydraulic pressure tubes '6l and S2 into which oil may be forced thereby positioning the piston shaft E3 in any desired position in which it is held under hydraulic lock when valves in lines Si and 62 are closed.

The lower end of the hydraulic mechanism is pivotally mounted on the plow as illustrated at 65. The upper end of the piston shaft 63 is liattened as shown at 5a (Figure 4) and to it there is attached a U-shaped strap 55. The strap provides an elongated opening 5l between the end of piston rod 53 and the straps extremity. Upon both sides of each of the arms 55 there are welded or attached spaced gusset plates G9, which are provided with a plurality of apertures 'i6 through which a clevis pin 'H passes. The pin 'il may be placed in either of the apertures 'f for varying the range of movement of the rotary rake frame with respect to the movement of the hydraulic piston shaft The pin Il carries a U-shaped bracket i2 which is turned at right angles to the U-shaped strap 55. Upon the upper outer end of the U-shaped strap 65 there is welded the head of a thru bolt 'M which carries a washer l5 and a compression spring i3, the latter bearing against the underside Tl of the U-shaped bracket 72.

The bolt "I2 is provided with a pair of adjusting nuts 18 which are used initially to place the spring 1S under considerable Compression. The force of piston rod 63 for adjustably positioning the rake frame is accordingly transmitted from the rod t3 thru the U-shaped bracket 56 thru the head of bolt lil, washer l5, spring T6, to the underside of the U-shaped strap Ti, which, in turn, thru tension lifts the pin 'il passing thru the spaced gusset plates 59 on the arm. When the hydraulic cylinder has been adjusted to any desired position, flow of the hydraulic liquid thru hoses 6l and 52 is prevented by suitable shutoff valves and the piston rod [i3 is thus adjustably positioned against movement in either direction. When an extraordinary upward force is imposed upon either end of the rake frame arms 55 this force is transmitted thru pin 'H and pulls downwardly upon the U-shaped bracket l2 thus compressing spring 16 without moving the piste-n rod 63 which is held hydraulically. It will be noted that the pin 'H is free to move within the limits of the space 61. Thus the rake frame may be momentarily deflected without imposing undue stress upon the hydraulic positioning mechanism 50. After the deflecting stress has passed, the spring 'I6 again pulls the U-shaped bracket 12 upwardly until the pin 'il is held tightly against the underside of the U-shaped strap ES.

The rake frame arms 55 are preferably cf box construction made up either by welding a blade on a channel section or by welding together suitable angles or plates. The outer end of each of the arms 55 is cutaway, as illustrated at S5, and an end block 8| is welded in. rihe end block 8l of the arms are drilled out along the axis of the arm as shown in Figure 5 and constitutes a bearing for stub shaft B5. Shaft 8S has a bearing sleeve portion 81, within which there is a self-oiling bronze bushing or other suitable bearing 88. By this construction, the bearing 8B is permitted to turn freely about the axis of stub shaft 26 and the position 0f the bearing SS with respect to the rake frame member 5l is adjustably positicnable by means of a plurality of shims fitlA and BB which are held in place by collar 9! and pin 2. By shifting the shims A to position 9MB or vice versa it is possible to move the axis of bearing 88 closer or farther away from the rake frame member 5l as desired for adjusting the tension of the rake drivechain,

The rotary rake shaft, generally designated 95, is preferably constructed of a tubular pipe 96 having welded-in blocks 97 carrying end shafts 93 (Figure 5). Thrust washers are provided at Sil, and upon the outwardly extending portion of the stub shafts S9, there Aare positioned tubular `end members generally designated Hlth and IEElR, each of which has a flange lill. The flanges lili are provided for mounting the slicing blades la?, which are held in place by thru bolts |03.

Upon the rotary rake shaft d there is a plurality of rake seats, which are identical except for their angular position. Each of the rake seats is composed of two diametrically disposed lugs l extending lengthwise of the pipe 96 and welded in place. The angular position of the plane thru the lugs c5 at one of the seats is about 6-0" displaced from the corresponding plane of the next succeeding rake seat so 4that when the rakes, generally designated l 3G, `are similarly mounted upon the rake seats, they likewise will be disposed at 60 angular positions along a spiral. Similar raise seats l GS are provided in the tubular end members i @GR and WSL.

Except for the two short central blades generally designated which may optionally be dispensed with in some installations, each oi the rakes has the following construction:

The base cf the rake is a short length of angle iron ill having the outer ends of the angle pierced to receive a pair of bolts H2 which are held in place by nuts il-. The angles lie lengthwise on shalt Extending outwardly along a line approximately bisecting the angle of the angle iron, there is a rake plate i lli, which is straight thruout most of its length but curved at its tip in the direction of rotation as shown at l i5. The rake plate is preferably shortened into a cutting edge. The convex portion of the curved tip is provided with a central splitter blade H5, and the back of the rake plate H4 is supported by a triangular gusset plate Ill? welded onto the rake plate li-fl and to the angle iron Hl. Each of the raises is thus of exceedingly rugged construction and is held onto the rotary rake shaft without any impairment of the strength of that shaft, since 'the U-bolts l i2 and the lugs m5 tend to strengthen rather than weaken the rotary rake shaft.

The rotary rake shaft is rotated in the direction of arrow B2i (Figure l) by means or a sprocket wheel i522 mounted on a flange H23, the latter being carried on tubular end shaft HEER. The sprocket ii! is aligned with a smaller sprocket Hit solidly attached to the bushing H25. The bushing E25 also carries a larger sprocket |26 which is aligned with a primary drive sprocket it?. The bushing l@ rotates on stub end shaft of the rake frame.

To the right end of the snow plow rotor shaft 35, as shown in Figures l and 3, there is an ex` tending shaft i3d, which passes thru the snow plow moldboard and is supported by an outboard bearing lil on the snowplow. Shaft @Se carries sprocket l2? and thru the medium of driving chains 33 and i3d the rotary motion of the snowplow rotor is mechanically transmitted to the r0- tary rake. The adjustment of the tensio-n of chain i513 may easily be accomplished by the insertion or removal or" shirns under the supporting bearing at the right as shown in Figure l, and the adjustment of chain l@ may likewise be accomplished by the shifting of shims at positions 95A and 3dB of Figure 5 as hereinbefore eX- plained.

In operation the truck or automotive unit i@ is driven directly into the snow, and as the snow is gathered and moved into the recesses of the W-shaped moldboard, rotary impellers 3ER and 321i engage and direct the snow thru the discharge mechanism 3ER and SSL either to the right or left according to the position of V- shaped deector blades 3l'. The position of the latter may be adjusted at will by the operator by applying pressure to one or the other of hydraulic cylinders 312, and 4.3L. The motive power for rotating impellers 32H, and 32L and the rotary rake may be supplied either by the automotive propulsion engine of the unit l or by a separate power source mounted upon the rear platform l l of the propulsion unit.

The position of the rotary rake is adjustable from the lowermost position shown in Figure 3 to an elevated position in which the arms 55 are held along the line EEE, and the range of movement may be varied by changing the position of pin 'li from the one to the other or the apertures l@ in the spaced gusset plates ci?. rEhe raises, generally designated ll, are rotated at a rate somewhat slower than the inipellers 3ER and 321i, and break and chop down the incrusted snow and ice in front of the plow. In the most elevated position, the rakes are able to engage the surface oi snc-w as high or higher than the cab of the propulsion unit lil thus preliminarily moving the snow downward where it may be engaged by the plow. The outer slicing blades ft2 produce a clean cut at the sides of the unit thus decreasing danger of caving in of the snow, and the central blades iii@ and rakes Hi' chop and cut "ie hardened snow and ice so that it may be readily removed by the snowplcw. By thus preliminarily cutting and breaking up the snow, the amount of power required ior the rotary snowplow is reduced from Si) to 56% of the amount required where the entire snow removal operation is accomplished by the rotary snowplow itself. In the lowered position the rales are very useful in breaking up roadside accumulated snow for loading operations.

lin the modification shown in Figures 6 and ri there are two rotary raices generally designated 2d@ and ill which are essentially the same in construction and bearing mounting as the rotary rake of the device shown in Figures l and 3. rEhe lower rotary rake 2d@ is mounted on a frame composed ci arms Ztl-5, mounting shaft 25E, diagonal braces E5-2555 which may, for uniformity of manufacture, be the same as that illustrated in Figures l and 3. The mounting shaft 2ii is preferably of tubular material and is provided with stub shafts 252-252 which are carried in pillow blocks 253 on the plow. The frame just referred to is provided with rear gussets 255 as in Figure 1 and the supporting mechanism composed oi' brace rod strap El?, spring 2"!5, bolt 2id, and nuts Zil may all be identical with the corresponding parts of the device in Figures l and 3, except that the rod 2553 is pivotally attached to the plow by pivot pin 235 bracket 252 instead of being the piston rod oi a hydraulic mechanism as in Figures .l and 3. By means of 's construction the frame arms 255 and are permitted a limited lifting movement in the rotary strike exceedingly hard snow or obstructions.

The upper rotary rake Elli is preferably position-ed above and slightly forward of the lower rake 23! and is carried on arms 2-2il which are solidly attached to arms 255 as by welding or riveting. Braces 29! are attached to arms 250 and 255 and serve to support arms 2Q@ from arm 255.

Upon the right hand stub shaft 252 (as shown in Figure 7) there are journalled three sprocket gears 292i, 29d and 2%. Each gear has a separate bearing and may rotate independently of the Iothers on shaft 252. Gear 2&5 (the larger gear) is connected by chain to a driving sprocket '295 on shaft |33 which is an extension of the main rotor shaft of the plow. Gears 295 and 29d are provided with means for joining either gear 294i or both gears 293 and 2% to the driving gear 2,95 for rotation therewith. This may conveniently be in the form of one or more eccentric pins mounted on gear 295 for movement parallel to shaft 252 into an aperture in gear 23d, so as to drive gear 29d from ESE and, if desired, entirely thru gear 25d into gear 283, so as to drive both gears 293 and 29d from gear 2%. The eccentric pin (or pins) are designated 2th? in Figures G and '7. Y

Sprocket chain 3EME is arranged to run on aligned sprocket gears 235 and 295, chain 2%' runs on aligned sprockets 293 and 258 (of the upper rotary rake) and chain Stil runs on aligned sprockets 29d and 3533 (of the lower rotary rake). Thus with the plow rotor operating sprocket 285 drives sprocket 255 which, in turn, may drive gear 231i alone or gears 251i and 283 depending upon the setting of the eccentric pin 2te?. In this manner either the lower rake alone or both the lower and upper rakes Edil and 25H may be rotated.

If desired, the gear ratios of gears ESS-29E and 29d-33 may be varied so as to rotate the upper rotary rake El at a higher speed or at a lower speed than lower rotary rake 2Gb.

In this manner when the rotary drive shaft i3d is turning sprocket 2% turns and rotates the rakes 2d@ and 2M. Rake 2d! may he arranged to rotate at a slower speed as the amount of material to be broken up is usually less than that engaged by rotary rake Zii. When the snow thickness decreases sprocket 296i may be disengaged from sprocket 293 by withdrawing drive pin 285B whereupon the upper rake chain 2M and sprocket 293 remain quiet while the remainder of the machine is in operation. Likewise, by entirely withdrawing pin 295P from gears 293 and @Sii both rakes may be stopped, brace rods 253 may he disengaged and the entire rotary rake assembly tilted up out of the path of a small snow layer. When so elevated, the rotary rake fra-me may be held by suitable stay chains or hooks.

Should the rakes strike an obstruction while rotating, the entire frame composed of mounting shaft 25! and pieces 255, 23B and Ztl at one or both ends may deect upwardly against the action of springs 2"#'5 as the bearings carrying the rakes 2Q@ and 231 are trunnion mounted in bearing blocks 253.

Various details in the construction of the apparatus herein illustrated may obviously be made by those skilled in the art and are deemed within the range of equivalents of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

l. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a mounting shaft horizontally disposed on the plow transversely of the direction of motion thereof and journalled thereon, a pair of forwardly extending frames attached to said mounting shaft, a pair of horizontally disposed rotary rake shafts extending transversely to the direction of motion of the plow and journalled on the forwardly extending frames, said rotary rake shafts being positioned one above the other and forwardly of the plow, rake members on the rake shafts, driven wheels on each of said rake shafts, and a pair of cooperating driving wheels journalled concentrically with said mounting shaft, flexible drive belts connecting each of said driving wheels, and one of said driven wheels, and means for rotating said driving wheels.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said means for rotating said driving wheels is arranged to be coupled to one or both driving wheels for rotating one or both of said wheels.

3. The combination set forth in claim l further characterized in that the means is provided for yieldably restraining backward rotation of said mounting shaft whereby said forwardly extending frames and the rotary rakes mounted thereon are restrained from lifting.

4. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a rotary rake mechanism comprising a frame mounted transversely of the direction of motion of the plow and above the plow, a pair of arms extending generally forwardly of the frame, said arms being normally in the same plane and solidly connected to the frame, brackets on the plow pivotally mounting the frame for rotary movement about its own axis whereby the arms are swingable up and down, hydraulic rams, one for each arm, said rams having positive hydraulic action in two directions, one such ram being connected to each arm and to the plow whereby the arms and frame are swingingly positionable in desired angular positions from low to high in front of the plow, a rake shaft substantially parallel to the frame and spaced therefrom, a bearing for each end of said shaft, said bearing beiner mounted for rotation about a rotation axis at right angles to the bearing axis, said rotation axis being substantially co-extensive with the axis of said arms, a plurality of rake arms mounted on the rake shaft, and power transmission means from the plow rotor to the rotary rake shaft for rotating the latter in any angularly elevated position.

5. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a rotary rake mechanism comprising a frame mounted transversely of the direction of motion of the plow, and above the plow, a pair of arms extending generally forwardly of the frame, said arms being normally in the same plane and solidly connected to the frame, brackets on the plow pivotally mounting the frame for rotary movement about its own axis whereby the arms are swingable up and down, hydraulic rams, one for each arm, said rams having positive hydraulic action in two directions, one such ram being connected to each arm and to the plow whereby the arms and frame are swingingly positionable in desired angular positions from low to high in front of the plow, a rake shaft substantially par` allel to the frame and spaced therefrom, a bearing for each end of said shaft, said bearing being mounted for rotation about a rotation axis at right angles to the bearing axis, said rotation axis being substantially coextensive with the axis of said arms, shim means for adjustably posiu tioning each of said bearings with reference to the arm carrying the bearing for adjustably varying the distance between the rake shaft and frame, a plurality of rake arms mounted on the rake shaft and power transmission means from the plow rotor to the rotary rake shaft for roasomoe tating the latter in any angularly elevated position.

6. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a rotary rake mechanism comprising a frame mounted transversely of the direction of motion of the plow, and above the plow, a pair of arms extending generally forwardly of the frame, said arms being normally in the same plane and solidly connected to the frame, brackets on the plow pivotally mounting the frame' for rotary movement about its own axis whereby the arms are swingable up and down, hydraulic rams, one for each arm, said rams having positive hydraulic action in two directions, a spring connection between each ram and the arm to which it is connected whereby the arms and frame are positionable by movement of the rams but the arms and frame are slightly movable with respect to the rams when an arm is heavily stressed while working, a rake shaft rotatably mounted on said arms substantially parallel to the frame, a plurality of rake arms mounted thereon and power transmission means from the plow rotor to the rotary rake shaft for rotating the latter in any angularly elevated position.

7. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a rotary rake mechanism comprising a frame mouned transversely of the direction of motion of the plow, and above the plow, a pair of arms extending generally forwardly of the frame, said arms being normally in the same piane and solidly connected to the frame, brackets on the plow pivotaily mounting the frame for rotary movement about its own axis whereby the arms are swingable up and down, hydraulic rams, one for each arm, said rams having positive hydraulic action in two directions each of said rams having a piston rod, a iirst U-shaped strap fastened to the rod forming an elongated loop at the end of the rod, a second U-shaped strap having its ends pivotally connected to its arm of the frame by a pivot pin passing thru the loop of the first U-shaped strap, `a compression spring positioned between the iirst and second U-shaped straps for normally forcing the rst strap against said pivot pin but permitting movement of said pin in the loop of the iirst U-shaped strap and accompanying compression of said spring when the arm is moved under stress with reference to the piston rod, -a rake shaft rotatably mounted on said arms substantially parallel to the frame, a plurality of rake arms mounted thereon and power transmission means from the plow rotor to the rotary rake shaft for rotating the latter in any angularly elevated position.

8. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a rotary rake mechanism comprising a frame mounted transversely of the direction of motion of the plow, and above the plow, a pair of arms extending generally forwardly of the frame, said arms being normally in the same plane and solidly connected to the frame, brackets on the plow pvotally mounting the frame for rotary movement about its own axis whereby the arms are swingable up and down, hydraulic rams, one for each arm, said rams having positive hydraulic action in two directions, one such ram being connected to each arm and to the plow whereby the arms and frame are swingingly positionable in desired angular positions from low to high in front of the plow, a ralae shait rotatably mounted on said arms substantially parallel to the frame, a plurality of rake mounting seats on the outer surface of said rake shaft at spaced intervals, each of said seats comprising diametrically disposed protuberances extending parallel and lengthwise of the ralre shaft, a plurality of rake arms mounted on the rake shaft at said seats, each ral-:e arm having an angle plate embracing one side of the rake shaft and the protuberances at said seats, said angle plates being held in place by U-bolts around the shaft, and power transmission means from the plow rotor to the rotary rake shaft for rotating the l latter in any angularly elevated position.

9. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a rotary rake mechanism comprising a frame mounted transversely in the direction of motion of the plow, and above the plow a pair of arms extending generally forwardly of the frame, said arms being normally in the same plane and solidly connected to the frame, brackets on the plow pivotally mounting the frame for rotary movement about its own axis whereby the arms are swingable up and down, hydraulic rams, one for each arm, said rams having positive hydraulic action in two directions, one such ram being connected to each arm and to the plow whereby the arms and frame are swingingly positionable in desired angular positions from low to high in front of the plow, a rake shaft rotatably mounted on said arms substantially parallel to the frame, a plurality of rake arms mounted thereon, each of said rake arms comprising a fiat plate bent in a curve at one end, a splitter blade extending lengthwise of the rake arm and midway between the sides thereof thruout said curved portion, and power transmission means from the plow rotor to the rotary rake for rotating the latter in any angularly elevated position of the rake shaft.

10. In combination with a rotary snowplow, a rotary rake mechanism comprising a frame mounted transversely of the direction of motion of the plow and above the plow, a pair of arms eX- tenoling generally forwardly of the frame, said arms being normally in the same plane and solidly connected to the frame, brackets on the plow pivotally mounting the frame for rotary movement about its own axis whereby the arms are swingable up and down, hydraulic rams, one for each arm, said rams having positive hydraulic action in two directions, one such ram being connected to each arm and to the plow whereby the arms and frame are swingingly positionable in desired angular positions from low to high in front of the plow, a raise shaft rotatably mounted on said arms substantially parallel to the frame, a plurality of rake arms mounted thereon, each of said rake arms comprising a short length of angle iron extending lengthwise of the rake shaft and fastened thereto with the angle outward, a flat rake plate welded to the angle iron at the apex of the angle and extending outwardly therefrom, a reinforcing gusset plate welded to the back of the flat rake plate thruout a major portion of its length and welded to the :angle iron, said flat rake plate being curved at its outer end in the direction of rotation.

CHRIS B. JENSEN. 

